Erdogan denounces ‘plot’ against Turkey’s future

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose Islamist-leaning
government is engulfed in a corruption scandal, on Saturday called the
political crisis a “plot” against Turkey’s “future and stability” by
rival forces.

At a luncheon in Istanbul with generally
pro-government intellectuals, writers and journalists, Erdogan
reiterated his view that forces in Turkey and abroad are conspiring to
oust him from power.

“What they wanted to do was an attempted assassination of the national will,” he said in the televised address.

“They tried to carry out a judicial coup in Turkey.... But we are going
to oppose this operation, this December 17 plot that targeted the
future, the stability of our country,” Erdogan said.

Erdogan’s
conspiracy charges are in reaction to a vast corruption investigation
that led to the arrests on December 17 of key allies including
high-profile businessmen and the sons of former ministers.

The
prime minister was forced to reshuffle his cabinet and some lawmakers
have resigned from his Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The
corruption scandal has also affected the economy with the Turkish lira
currency at record lows against the dollar and shares tumbling on the
Istanbul stock exchange this week.

Erdogan on Saturday
expressed confidence that Turkey would overcome its current
difficulties. He pointed to municipal elections set for March as a test
for the regime in upcoming presidential elections in August.

“We will not allow a cloud to be cast over Turkey’s future,” he said.

Erdogan’s government, in power since 2002, has accused loyalists of
US-exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, who wield influence in the police and
judiciary, of instigating the corruption probe.

Gulen, who left
Turkey for the United States in 1999 after being accused of plotting to
form an Islamic state, has denied involvement in the investigation.

PM insists early elections "not priority"

Source: Tanjug

BATROVCI -- Serbian Prime Minister and Socialist
Party (SPS) leader Ivica Dačić has reiterated that he does not see early
elections as a priority.

(Tanjug, file)

The
last word on that subject should be had by the parties in power, and
not the government, he commented on Friday, while touring the Batrovci
border crossing.
"I'm not talking about this alone. I spoke with (Aleksandar)
Vučić, and if he wants to go to the polls, let's go to the polls, but -
do we want to work, or wait for elections? The Serbian government works
and should be dedicated to work. Elections are not a topic, it is not a
state priority," said Dačić, and added that the government has "big work
to do as early as next week."

According to him, the government
has made a historic result - January 21 will be the start of
negotiations on EU membership, the dialogue in Brussels continues, "and
it is taking place almost every month so it is necessary to be devoted
to work."

"Also, different state priorities could be
determined. There is no dilemma there, nor any need for a public debate.
This should be decided by the parties in the ruling coalition, and I do
not want to deal with the issue any longer. It is not the central
issue, it is not a matter for the government, but for the parties that
make up the government," the news agencies quoted Dačić as saying.

"That's not what he was saying when the government was
formed. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Maybe I have an opinion
about others who perform other state functions. Maybe I think they can
do better."

Asked whether the government indeed could perform
better, he said that "in Serbia, anyone can do better, and even the
government."

ANKARA Turkey selected a local shipyard to award the countrys first-ever contract for the acquisition of a Landing Platform Dock (LPD), a deal industry sources estimated at about $500 million.

Turkeys procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), announced on its web page late Dec. 27 that it picked up Sedef Gemi Insaati A.S., a privately-owned Istanbul shipyard, to open contract negotiations for the LPD program.

SSM said if contract negotiations with Sedef failed, talks would open with the second-comer, DESAN Deniz Insaat Sanayi A.S.

SSM opened the competition in 2010.

Turkey is bordered by sea on three sides; the Black Sea in the north, the Mediterranean in the south and the Aegean in the west. In the northwest, there is also an important internal sea, the Sea of Marmara, between the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, important waterways that connect the Black Sea with the rest of the world. The Turkish coastline is 4,474 miles, excluding islands.

Turkey has long been aiming to bolster its amphibious vessel fleet. The LPD program is designed to deploy a battalion-sized force of up to 1,000 troops and personnel, eight utility helicopters, three UAVs, 13 tanks and 81 armored vehicles to crisis zones in the three seas near Turkey.

Turkish officials have said they prefer joint development and production proposals, bringing together Turkish and foreign companies. Sedef is expected to choose foreign partner or partners for certain capabilities in the program.

Friday, January 3, 2014

Rama: 2014, year of recovery

"The extremist forces are a concerning issue for the
EU. It is not up to us to treat and resolve that issue. What we can do,
is to make sure that that integration will not hampered by them. EU
doesn't hide the fact that the Muslim affiliation of part of our
population is concerning", Rama declared.

The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, held the New Year's Eve press
conference this Monday, in which he commented the first 100 days of his
government and announced the priorities for the next year.

"Citizens voted the change
and made 2013 the year of the big change. With their votes, doctors,
teachers, police officers and 97% of the citizens chose to have fewer
taxes. In these 100 days we established our orientation for the future",
Rama declared.

"Reestablishing law and order, and protecting
citizens and their property, will be the priority of 2014. Other
priority is the justice reform. The Albanian people need justice", Rama
declared, underlining that the foreign and integration policies will
also be a priority.

"Next year we will have a foreign policy
based on the promotion of an active Albania. The next year will be the
year of work for the integration process and that Albania takes what it
deserved", the head of government declared.

Rama added that
radical reforms await our country in the next year, and he announced a
series of actions that will take under control the national assets. He
also declared that the property titles will all be given in 2014.

The
Prime Minister also answered to journalist questions. When asked by Top
Channel if there will be constitutional changes in the next year, he
declared:

"We don't have a plan to make constitutional changes.
We will make a justice reform and we are ready to cooperate with the
opposition for this".

Rama underlined that there are no barriers
with businesses in Kosovo, and that as for the Peja Beer, the Albanian
government has simply followed the directives of the European Union.

As
for the relations with Kosovo, Rama guaranteed that in the first
meeting between the two governments they will mark the beginning of the
strategic governing between the two states.

When asked about
Albania's position in the Islamic Conference, Rama accepted that this is
an issue for the Eu, but underlined that it will be resolved with
maturity.

"The extremist forces are a concerning issue for the
EU. It is not up to us to treat and resolve that issue. What we can do,
is to make sure that that integration will not hampered by them. EU
doesn't hide the fact that the Muslim affiliation of part of our
population is concerning", Rama declared.

Installed wind-powered electricity capacity in Greece rose to 1,864.6
megawatts at the end of 2013 from 1,749.4 MW a year earlier, the
Hellenic Wind Energy Association said on Thursday.
Installed
capacity rose by 71.15 MW in the second half of 2013 compared with an
increase of 44.05 MW in the first half and 10.35 MW in the second half
of 2012, showing investment recovery amid adverse economic conditions,
the Athens-based association said in an e-mailed statement.
Electricite
de France SA was the biggest producer of wind energy in Greece in 2013,
accounting for 322.8 MW or 17 percent of total production, according to
the association.
Terna Energy SA was the second-largest producer
with 277.4 MW and Iberdrola Renovables SA’s Greek unit, Rokas
Renewables, was third with 250.7 MW. Enel Green Power SpA and Ellaktor
made up the rest of the top five producers.
Vestas Wind Systems A/S accounted for 49 percent of wind turbines installed in Greece in 2013 and Enercon GmbH for 24 percent.

The next local elections in May, the Greeks of Diaspora, will vote for the first time in historyAbout 700 thousand Northern Epiriotes, will receive double citizenship after the bill is expected to pass in the Greek parliament

Dora Bakogianis , a Senior official, of the Nea Demokracy Party of the PM Antonis Samaras, during a visit in Melbourne, Australia, has said before the Greek diaspora, that the Greek government (ND, PASOK) has prepared a draft law for the device with dual nationality, all the Greek diaspora, Omogenia in 5 continents where they live.

In this case, the former Foreign Minister of Greece Dora Bakogiani, a good cognitive, for the national issues of Greece, has informed the Australian Greek lobby, for the efforts of the Greek government, to provide within these months, with dual citizenship and the right to vote, in the upcoming local elections to be held in May, in Greece.

Of course in the program of this draft law, the Northern Epiriotes, are a large contingent from Albania, in which a major category, including ethnic Greeks, mixed families, vllaho greeks, and Albanian with permanent residence permits in Greece.

According to sources for SManalysis, the Greek dual citizenship, may receive about 700 thousand Northern epiriotes, with the right to vote, both Greece and Albania where they live.

The procedure of distribution of dual citizenship documents, will be a process headed by foreign Ministry, directly by consulates in all the world where live the Greek diaspora (omogenes).

According to a result of the Census from the Greek Organization in Albania, " Omonia ", over 300 thousand ethnic Greeks, live in Albania, half of them immigrants living in Greece, who having parents, permanent civil status and property in Albania.

Anyway, both Athens and the Greek Organization "Omonia", doesn`t recognize the Albania Census of 2011, realized by the Albanian Government, which accounts about 1.7% of Greek community that live in Albania and 6.7% the orthodox community.

Kosovo and Albania, project unificationBoth governments will gather next week03/01/2014

The most commented news by analysts for the end of this year was the
joing meeting of the two Albanian governments, that of Albania and
Kosovo, led by Edi Rama and Hashim Thaci.

The meeting was confirmed by the Albanian PM and Kosovo Deputy PM, saying that it will be held on the second week of January.

Besides
a joint strategy for concrete cooperation between Albania and Kosovo in
several areas, the first meeting between both governments, which will
be held in Prizren, will establish a joint fund for the Presheva Valley
in Serbia.

The projects that will be realized from these funds
are the building of a maternity and school, promises made by the
Albanian Prime Minister during his electoral campaign.

This fund
would be the first one that the Albanian governments give for the
Presheva Valley, and it has been welcomed by the Presheva local leaders,
who considered it delayed but welcomed. Kosovo analysts consider the
commitment of the Kosovo and Albanian governments as very positive, but
have not hesitated to compare it to the help that the government of
Serbia is giving to northern Kosovo.

Analysts in Prishtina says
more than financial helps, the Albanians of Serbia need to improve the
rights of the Albanian people there. However, this is the first tike
that an Albanian government from Tirana helps the valley of Albanian
majority in Serbia, who often report of denied rights as a minority.

Greece to overhaul defence buying after scandal

By Harry Papachristou

ATHENSFri Jan 3, 2014

(Reuters) - Greece
will overhaul arms procurement to make it more transparent, Defence
Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said on Friday, after a wide-ranging
corruption inquiry led to the arrest of a former defence official and
two arms dealers.Heavy arms spending
was one of the reasons Athens piled up debt and had to be rescued with
European Union and IMF bailouts totalling 240 billion euros ($328
billion) in 2010 and 2012.

These
were accompanied by strict conditions that have increased poverty and
unemployment, so the scandal has touched a raw nerve with many Greeks.Avramopoulos said the ministry's proposals would be submitted to parliament "in the immediate future".His
statement followed court testimony by Antonis Kantas, deputy armaments
chief at the ministry between 1997 and 2002, who openly admitted to
taking $16 million in bribes relating to arms deals with foreign
companies from countries including Germany, France, Russia, Brazil and Sweden.Two
arms dealers named by Kantas, who was arrested and charged with graft
in December, appeared in court on Friday to respond to bribery charges.One
of the pair, 83-year-old Panagiotis Efstathiou, admitted before
investigating judges to bribing Kantas and also making payments to at
least seven high-ranking officers of the Greek armed forces, according
to a transcript of his testimony obtained by Reuters.Efstathiou,
who was released on 500,000 euros' bail, said he paid the bribes on
behalf of German defence company Atlas. The firm told Reuters in a
statement on Monday it was carrying out an internal investigation into
the matter and would then "decide on the steps to follow".Kraus-Maffei
Wegmann (KMW), another German company named by Kantas according to his
testimony obtained by Reuters, said in a statement on Friday it was also
carrying out investigations. "KMW has neither paid bribes nor made
anyone pay bribes, and obliges its employees and business partners to
strictly comply with the law," it said.The
second arms dealer interrogated on Friday, 78-year old Dimitris
Papachristos, was detained in jail after his testimony in which he also
admitted he paid Kantas, according to court sources.According to Kantas's testimony and court sources, Papachristos represented Wegmann in Greece at the time alleged bribes were paid.Greece
had the highest defence expenditure in the European Union in relation
to economic output over the past decade. Its military spending stood at
about 4 percent of output in 2009, when its debt crisis started. Most
contracts were awarded to foreign companies.Athens
has already convicted a former defence minister and Kantas's immediate
superior at the ministry for money laundering. ($1 = 0.7322 euros)(Additional reporting by Karolina Tagaris in Athens and Sabine Siebold in Berlin; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo are working on transportation
infrastructure projects to improve travel and develop local economies.
Transportation and infrastructure officials met in Ohrid last month
and agreed to begin implementing highway projects beginning in the first
quarter of this year to connect the three countries. They also agreed
to finish construction of the railway along east-west European
transportation corridor No. 8 as well as liberalise freight
transportation.
"We are beginning to intensify the co-operation process aimed to
fully implement all projects and available funds. The process is open to
all regional countries because they are involved in European
integration," said Albania Transportation and Infrastructure Minister
Edmond Haxhinasto.
Haxhinasto said the meetings have a specific platform and are structured to solve current problems and to look to the future.
Albania announced capital road infrastructure projects to build
highways to significantly ease transportation with Macedonia and Kosovo.
Macedonian officials said the country will begin to build two
highways in its western part adjacent Albania and Kosovo, while
concurrently working on completing the highway to Greece.
"I already announced the signing of the agreement to construct the
Kicevo-Ohrid highway -- works will begin in the first trimester of 2014
-- and also the Macedonian government is making efforts to obtain a
favourable financial package for the Gostivar-Kicevo highway. In
addition, I announced our plans to rehabilitate the road toward Debar
[on the Albanian border]," Mile Janakieski, Macedonia transportation and
communications minister, said.
Kosovo has completed highway No. 6, which connects Kosovo with the
north-south transportation corridor No. 10, Fehmi Mujota, Kosovo
infrastructure minister, said.
"We are about to begin construction on the new highway to the
Macedonian border and expect to complete it in three years," Mujota
said.
Mujota said work will likely continue across the border in Macedonia
to connect this highway with the Tetovo-Gostivar-Kicevo highway.
"Only this [completed] route will make corridor No. 8 functional," he added.
"We will continue to contribute to [develop] the east-west
transportation corridor No. 8 [because] connecting Tirana and Skopje is
very important," Haxhinasto added.
Completing the road infrastructure means an increase in trade between
the three states, and Macedonian companies will begin more readily to
use ports in Albania as an alternative to the port in Thessaloniki, said
Menderes Kuci, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Northwest
Macedonia in Tetovo.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Albania brands power pylon blast a "terrorist act"

TIRANAThu Jan 2, 2014

Jan 2 (Reuters) - Albania's interior ministry said
on Thursday an explosion that damaged a power pylon was a
"terrorist act" apparently prompted by anger over higher fuel
prices and taxes.The attack, which targeted a major electricity transmission
line linking the capital Tirana with Albania's northern
neighbour Montenegro, occurred on Dec. 31 and did not appear to
disrupt power supplies in the small Balkan nation.

The interior ministry distributed pictures showing the
damage to the pylon - which remained standing - and also two
small signs taped to the structure that read "fuel" and "taxes"
in Albanian."This is the first terrorist act in the Republic of Albania
which has been accompanied by clear messages left at the crime
scene by the perpetrators," the ministry said in a statement.

Albania's Socialist government has hiked a national fuel tax
by 10 leks ($0.10) per litre and also raised taxes on big
business and the wealthy since sweeping to power in September.

The explosion recalled a spate of similar attacks a decade
ago which caused some disruption in electricity supplies.
($1 = 101.9750 Albanian leks)
(Reporting By Benet Koleka, editing by Gareth Jones)

Montenegrin FM: NATO has no alternative

Source: Tanjug

PODGORICA -- Montenegrin Deputy PM and Foreign
Minister Igor Lukšić has said that membership in NATO has no alternative
for his country.

(Beta, file)

"NATO
today has no alternative. It is the guarantor of every kind of safety
to a country and it is important that the citizens of Montenegro
understand in the right way that this is the best way for our children
and for future development," Lukšić said.
Montenegro is currently in the Membership Action Plan (MAP), while full membership in NATO is considered to be the next step.

"Given our desire and ambition to be given an invitation for membership
in 2014, we will continue with further fulfillment of obligations, and
we actively contribute to global stability as a dedicated and reliable
partner of the alliance," he continued.

Lukšić also told the
CDM website that the Montenegrin government will in the coming period
"intensify the dialogue with citizens on the subject of integration in
NATO and offer sufficient arguments so that they understand the benefits
of membership in the alliance."

Lukšić said that Montenegro,
with the opening of negotiating chapters 23 and 24, "showed that it was a
serious partner of the European Union," but that it was also "capable
of meeting the demanding obligations on the road of European
integration."

He pointed out that the policy of good neighborly relations also continues to be one of the priorities of Montenegro.

Commenting on relations within the Montenegrin ruling coalition, he
said that there had been "better moments," but that it was "quite normal
that after a long joint performance of authority there should be
friction and different views on certain issues."

US Navy submarine fires drone from underwater

The US Navy has successfully launched an unmanned
aerial system from a fully submerged submarine, marking the successful
completion of a nearly six year long program designed to further the
Navy’s drone capabilities.
The fuel-cell powered, completely electric unmanned aerial system
(UAS) was developed by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) with
funding assistance provided by the Department of Defense Rapid
Reaction Technology Office and the SwampWorks innovation program.
Engineers used a launch system known as ‘Sea Robin’ (first
developed to launch tomahawk missiles from submarines) to fire
what is known as the eXperimental Fuel Cell Unmanned Aerial
System, or XFC UAS. The UAS surfaced before rocketing through the
air for several hours, broadcasting the entire mission via live
video to commanders watching from a nearby base.
“This six-year effort represents the best in collaboration of
a Navy laboratory and industry to produce a technology that meets
the needs of the special operations community,” Dr. Warren
Schultz, program developer and manager at NRL, said in a press
release. “The creativity and resourcefulness brought to the
project by a unique team of scientists and engineers represents
an unprecedented shift in UAV propulsion and launch
systems.”
The Navy’s announcement Thursday comes as the public is
questioning the very future of drones. Amazon founder and CEO
Jeff Bezos announced this week that he hopes the company will
eventually deliver packages throughout the United States by using
drones rather than traditional ground and air delivery services.
The mere mention of such a plan was enough to cause a commotion,
with columnists and lawmakers alike warning against such a plan.
Moreover, upcoming regulations by the FAA on the domestic use of
drones are expected to include major restrictions and limit the
use of UAV’s weighing up to 55 pounds.
It also comes after the Navy and Marines decided to bet big on
the RQ-21A Blackjack. Officials at Navy Air Command awarded an
$8.8 million contract to Insitu, a subsidiary of the Boeing
Corporation last week in an exchange for an initial Blackjack
order. The order includes the production of one aircraft, ground
control stations, as well as launch equipment, according to
Wired.
The Blackjack craft is 8 feet long with a wingspan of 16 feet,
weighing in at 80 pounds. The drone can be launched from air or
sea and is capable of flying 104 mph at nearly 20,000 feet for 13
hours.
“It has a configurable payload that allows you to integrate
new and unique payloads that are specific to the mission in
addition to an [electro-optical/infrared] camera,” Marine
Corps Major Wayne Phelps told the technology magazine. “You
can have multi-mission ability. This allows you to do some type
of unique cross-cueing types of missions.”

US the biggest threat to world peace in 2013 – poll

The US has been voted as the most significant threat to world peace
in a survey across 68 different countries. Anti-American sentiment was
not only recorded in antagonistic countries, but also in many allied
NATO partners like Turkey and Greece.

A global survey conducted by the Worldwide Independent
Network and Gallup at the end of 2013 revealed strong animosity
towards the US’s role as the world’s policeman. Citizens across
over 60 nations were asked: “Which country do you think is
the greatest threat to peace in the world today?”
The US topped the list, with 24 percent of people believing
America to be the biggest danger to peace. Pakistan came second,
with 8 percent of the vote and was closely followed by China with
6 percent. Afghanistan, Iran, Israel and North Korea came in
joint fourth place with 5 percent of the vote.

The threat from the US was rated most highly in the Middle East
and North Africa, those areas most recently affected by American
military intervention. Moreover, the survey showed that even
Americans regard their country as a potential threat with 13
percent of them voting the US could disrupt global status quo.
Latin America expressed mixed feelings towards its northerly
neighbor, with Peru, Brazil and Argentina all flagging the US as
the most dangerous country.

After its numerous threats of a strike on Iran, many countries
voted Israel was the biggest threat to prosperity. Morocco,
Lebanon and Iraq all chose Israel as the number one danger to
world peace.
In the survey participants were also asked: “If there were no
barriers to living in any country of the world, which country
would you like to live in?” Despite being the perceived
largest threat to world peace, the US still topped the tables by
a narrow margin of 9 percent.

In general 2013 saw a drop in approval ratings for the Obama
Administration. A poll conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public
Affairs Research revealed that 50 percent of those asked thought
that the political system in the US needed a “complete
overhaul.”
In addition, 70 percent of Americans believe the government lacks
the ability to make progress on the important problems and issues
facing the country in 2014.”
The survey comes two months after the first government shutdown
in 17 years in the US which cost the country an estimated $10
billion.

The American government’s credibility was dealt a blow earlier
this year when President Obama made a call to strike Syria
following a suspected chemical weapons attack by the Syrian
government on civilians. The American public and the
international community both opposed the action.

Two Albanians tend to grab the house of the head of the Municipality of Senigallia in Italy

Ancona ( Italy ) - New Year 's night, two Albanians have used differently way from most other people. Ardit Nuhu and Denis Lleshaj attempted to rob the house of Senigallia 's mayor, Maurizio Mangialardi, when the latter was celebrating in the streets .

21 - year-old and 18 - year-old (Nuhu and Lleshaj), both unmarried and persons without criminal precedents, forcibly entered to the house of Senigallia 's mayor, a city unit, 25 km from Ancona with a population of about 45 thousand inhabitants.

They were sure no one was in the house, since it was made ​​public that would emerge Mangialardi downtown to celebrate the changing of the years .

But they were neighbors who called the police, after two Albanians dictated by secretly entered the house of the mayor .

Within a few minutes near the mayor's house has received a police patrol surprised by two Albanians were collecting jewels and valuable personal items.

Greece is estimated to become the new "Norway" according to many big Oil companiesJanuary 2 2014

Greece: A new European oil and gas zone

A lot of ink has been spilled about the possible hydrocarbon quantities in Greece. Many companies have shown a lot of interest for the seismic data of just the first regions that have been explored by PGS.

Greece can be prove to be the new European oil and gas zone, without even taking into consideration the promising shale oil and gas that is present in many Greek regions.

Underneath the Aegean and Ionian Sea crust, according to many scientists lies some of the biggest hydrocarbon reservoirs of Europe. Top executives of the Oil and Gas industry estimate that Greece can acquire its own hydrocarbon industry in the years to come, and turn out to be an energy center for the whole region.

Even though it is quite soon to say whether the hydrocarbon quantities will be enough to make Greece an exporter, or even if it is enough for its own needs, preliminary results are very promising. New technologies and techniques help in making deep sea reservoirs reachable and economically viable. This could upgrade the geopolitical status of Greece in many ways.

Cyprus is cooperating with Israel for their own gas reservoirs and both are seeking ways to export these huge gas quantities to Europe. Greece can be the solution to this problem with the international TAP pipeline, and even with the plans for the huge gas storing place in the Northern Aegean in Macedonia region.

Greece is estimated to become the new Norway according to many big Oil companies.

This could pose part of a solution for the economic crisis that Greece has in the recent few years. Huge amount of money as well as many new job positions could offer a breath of much needed fresh air to Greece.

New regions of Greece in the Ionian Sea and in the south of Crete of a total 225.000 square km are now being promoted for seismic research. Many sources in the government say that in these regions, reservoirs such as the Cypriot and Israeli are expected to be discovered.

A significant problem that exists is that Greece has not, yet, declared its exclusive economic zones as most of the countries worldwide have. The reasons for this are complex and tricky. It was to do with the geopolitical situations and power play in the region. An exclusive economic zone, also known as EEZ, gives to a state right over the mineral rights over that area. Greeces neighbor to the East, Turkey, has declared as Casus Belli, or act of war, if Greece exercises its lawful right to declare its EEZ. Up to this point this wrongful Turkish position had little economic consequences, but now, as there are hydrocarbons involved a solution is needed. USA is exercising pressure to make the two countries reach a solution and exploit the hydrocarbons together. Many parameters have to be taken into consideration for something like that to happen though.http://youngpetro.org/2013/11/03/greece-a-new-european-oil-and-gas-zone/

A plan B, for Balkans?

"Change of borders would contribute to lasting peace"

BELGRADE -- Former British Ambassador to Yugoslavia
Sir Ivor Roberts believes that "a correction of borders in the Balkans
would contribute to a lasting peace".

Ivor Roberts is seen at the Belgrade Book Fair (Tanjug)

This "correction" would also include Kosovo, the now retired British diplomat told B92 in Belgrade on Wednesday.
Roberts,
who currently serves as president of Oxford's Trinity College, is in
Serbia to promote his book "Conversations with Milosevic", which was
presented during the ongoing International Belgrade Book Fair.

He added that it was his personal opinion that insistence on unchangeable borders was "absurd":

"We always had these mantras about Yugoslavia. For instance, after the
NATO bombing, the Security Council adopted a resolution containing the
mantra about the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia. After that Serbia and Montenegro
separated, and later Kosovo. The idea that such positions are carved in
stone is absurd, just as is insistence that a country with unsolved
territorial issues cannot join the EU. In that case Great Britain would
have to leave immediately because we have territorial disputes with
three countries."

The former ambassador also noted that instead
of debating whether a change of existing borders would be good or bad,
more focus should be put on the interest of the citizens.

"What
will stability bring? We have a saying that 'good fences make good
neighbors'. If people are still unable to live in peace and tolerance -
and incidents in Kosovo show that the situation is not good, and that's
not my impression, those are facts on the ground - then perhaps it's
best to redefine some of those borders," Roberts concluded.
smanalysis

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Help for Greece from across the Atlantic

By Katerina Sokou
WASHINGTON DC – The degree to which the Greek-American lobby can
actually influence policymaking in the United States is debatable, but
some things cannot be denied: A first is the close-knit ties between a
number of Greek-American millionaires and big political players in
Washington; a second is the persistent efforts of various organizations,
institutes and committees to promote the motherland's so-called
“national issues;” and, thirdly, the growing challenges in pushing Greek
interests in the US in the wake of the financial crisis – together with
the new opportunities that social media have created in this area.
“Money
is a problem,” said a Greek American who has in the past donated money
to Democrat as well as Republican candidates. Asking to remain
anonymous, he explained that the amount of money spent during US election campaigns has over the past few years gone through the roof.
Even the wealthiest members of the Greek-American community
can only spend a certain amount of money, said Endy Zemenides,
executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, a
national Greek-American advocacy organization based in Chicago.
For
Zemenides, donations are important but what really makes a difference
is regular, personal contact with politicians. “It is important that we
build ties with candidates before they even move to Washington,
while they are still in their states,” he said, adding that that has
been the case with some of Greece's closest friends, including Robert
Menendez, the senior United States senator from New Jersey, and Vice
President Joe Biden.
The Greek-American community may be generous,
but it does have a serious handicap: It does a poor job of mobilizing
its members. Zemenides believes that the reason for this is that the
concept of civic society is still underdeveloped among Greeks for
grassroots lobbying to flourish. He says that in order to strengthen
this, they will have to engage more women. The reason is partly pure
mathematics: Today it takes 100,000 signatures for the White House to
respond to a letter. But it is also a matter of quality: On top of the
diversity effect, statistics show women spend more money than men on the
campaigns they are interested in.
The Hellenic American
Leadership Council website invites visitors to sign petitions and send
letters on Greece-related issues to representatives and local
newspapers. One may, for example, find a template for a letter to the
press asking for better coverage of Turkey issues. A similar process can
be followed at the American Hellenic Institute, which sends out action
alerts to its members so that they can sign petitions to the US
Congress.
What organizations like Hellenic Leaders and the
American Hellenic Institute share is the emphasis on “national issues”
such as the Cyprus problem. In spite of the efforts of the
Greek-American lobby, most of these issues remain deadlocked for years.
At the same time, the crises in Greece and Cyprus are changing their
governments' priorities as there is less money for lobbying and the
situation calls for greater emphasis on financial, technical even
psychological aid from the diaspora.
Art Dimopoulos, a former
executive at international law firm K&L Gates, insists on the need
to hire specialized advisers. The firm, he said, has in the past come
into contact with Greek leaders who thought they knew how things in
Washington ran – but they were deeply misled. “An expert knows better
how to approach a member of Congress or the head of a department and how
to put forward a demand so as to achieve the desired outcome,” he said.
This can be particularly useful for professional sectors like tourism,
wine making and olive oil production.
Dimopoulos pointed out one
more crucial factor: the need to reach an agreement on a set of key
interests. As he says, “I'm for a strong, holistic lobbying campaign;
not here, but in Greece. This is where we need to train, inform and win
over public opinion. So everyone will be on the same wavelength on
issues that are important to all Greeks and on which we should all be
united.”
Despite the lack of resources and outside help, the
understaffed Greek Embassy in Washington is putting a great deal of
energy into social media and digital diplomacy as a member of
Washington's Digital Diplomacy Coalition and with a presence on
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and Flickr. In fact, the
@GreeceInUSA Twitter account was the eighth most influential diplomatic
account in Washington. Greek Ambassador Christos Panagopoulos was one of
the first diplomats to join the microblogging service.
The
embassy does not always deal with high politics, but it is trying to
mold a positive image for Greece. A recent social media campaign was
aimed at promoting study programs in Greece for foreign students, while
the next plan is the promotion of Greek entrepreneurship, innovation and
research.
Meanwhile, Turkey is working with FleishmanHillard
advertisers to strengthen its presence in social media. The same company
is responsible for organizing jazz nights at the stunning residence of
the Turkish ambassador, thus promoting not just the political but also
the cultural dimension of the country. Turkey is spending millions of
euros on the promotion of its objectives through a wide range of
channels, including Turkish Airlines as well as the movement of Muhammed
Fethullah Gulen.
According to ProPublica, Turkey spent 3.5
million dollars in 2008, the fourth-highest amount among foreign states,
and approached members of Congress 2,268 times in its efforts to avert
the recognition of the Armenian massacres as a genocide.

Albania is steadily deepening relations with EU law enforcement
agencies in an effort to stop organised crime and consolidate the rule
of law on its path to EU membership.
The country signed a co-operation agreement with Europol, EU's main law enforcement agency, in The Hague earlier this month.
The purpose of the agreement is to enhance co-operation EU member
states acting through Europol and Albania in preventing, investigating
and suppressing serious forms of international crime, according to
Saimir Tahiri, interior minister of Albania.
"The agreement is historical because it recognises the achievements
of the state police, but above all, [provides a] boost for the on-going
reforms and the results already achieved in the fight against organised
crime and corruption," Tahiri told SETimes.
Albanian police will now be able to access Europol's database to
co-ordinate activities with police in EU member states in cases against
trafficking of narcotics, people, human organs and tissues, motor
vehicles, works of art as well as historical artefacts.
Europol officials said Albania's greater inclusion in the work of EU's law enforcement is mutually beneficial.
"Through the signing of this agreement, we confirm our joint
commitment and solidarity in the fight against serious organised crime
and all forms of terrorist activity," Rob Wainwright, director of
Europol, said.
Officials said they expect a better information exchange and police
activity co-ordination to strengthen Albanian police's efforts directed
against money-laundering, counterfeit money and computer crime.
"The signing of the co-operation agreement between the state police
and Europol is a decisive step forward," said Ditmir Bushati, foreign
affairs minister of Albania.
The arrangement with Europol brings Albania closer to the EU, said
Sokol Bizhga, deputy director of police in charge of investigating
organised crime.
"Specifically, if Europol asked for information from Albania in the
past, we could not do the same. Being part of this organisation puts us
in a position to exchange information in a reciprocal way. This is
converted into efficiency in the fight against organised crime and
corruption," Bizhga told SETimes.

Meanwhile, Albania has been also intensifying co-operation with
neighboring countries' law enforcement. Last month, Greek police caught
three out of seven escapees from a high-security prison in Albania. Both
police forces acknowledged their joint engagement led to the prisoners
being quickly captured.
Some Albanians said they expect the authorities' efforts to address
organised crime will improve Albania's EU bid, but they also hope for
the opportunities to do business with EU member states.
"Every day, Albanian police in the port of Durres and the Italian
police arrest traffickers of stolen vehicles and marijuana. This has
raised suspicion about Albanians every time they cross the border. I
wish such a situation ends as soon as possible and trade flows more
freely," said Halit Turtulli, 56, a clothing trader from Durres, told SETimes. How will the agreement with Europol help Albania fight organised crime? Share your opinion in the comments space.

Turkey awards over $1 billion defense contracts in one week

Burak Bekdil

Within the past week, companies have ‘coincidentally’ signed on the dotted line in three long-awaited, prominent defense
industry projects that are said to be worth over $1 billion and include agreements for new landing docks and aircraft

AA Photo

The last week of the year saw Turkey’s defense procurement
authorities signing deals worth over $1 billion in what procurement
officials called a “pure coincidence.”

“Those were programs that
had been ongoing for a long time. It is a coincidence that the
announcements came one after the other within a week,” one procurement
official said.

Defense industry sources said the procurement
agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), probably
wanted to wrap up some of the programs ready for a decision as the
financial year closed. “The SSM may have wanted to complete some of its
checklist before the new financial [year] opened,” one source said.

In
the largest of the three deals, SSM selected a local shipyard to award
the country’s first-ever contract for the acquisition of a Landing
Platform Dock (LPD). Industry sources estimate the contract totals
around $500 million.

SSM said it picked up Sedef Gemi İnşaati
A.Ş., a privately owned Istanbul shipyard, to open contract negotiations
for the LPD program. It said that if contract negotiations with Sedef
failed, talks would open with the second-comer, DESAN Deniz İnşaat
Sanayi A.Ş. SSM opened the competition in 2010.

Turkey has long
been aiming to bolster its amphibious vessel fleet. The LPD program, one
of its most ambitious efforts, is designed to deploy a battalion-sized
force of up to 1,000 troops and personnel, eight utility helicopters,
three UAVs, 13 tanks and 81 armored vehicles to crisis zones in the
three international seas around Turkey.

Just a day before the
announcement on the LPD program, the Turkish government signed a
critical contract for the serial production of two different versions of
the Hürkuş, an indigenous trainer aircraft developed by the Tusaş
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

Turkey’s top decision-maker
overseeing defense procurement, the Defense Industry Executive
Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, ruled Sept.
26 to open contract negotiations with TAI for the serial production of
the Hürkuş.

TAI said the Hürkuş-A, an analog cockpit base model,
made its maiden flight on Aug. 23 and has flown a total of 800 hours in
15 sorties since then.

The contract involves the production of
15 Hürkuş-Bs, an advanced version with advanced avionics. Turkish
military electronics specialist Aselsan will be tasked with producing
modern military avionics for the aircraft.

TAI also said the
contract involved conceptual design work for the Hürkuş-C, an armed
aircraft with aerial support, reconnaissance and surveillance roles.

The
two-seat Hürkuş will have a maximum lifespan of 10,500 flight hours, or
about 35 years. The turboprop has a single 1,600-horsepower engine and
can fly up to 10,577 meters (nearly 35,000 feet) at a maximum speed of
574 kilometers per hour.

The Hürkuş will be equipped for day and
night flying, as well as for basic pilot training, instrument flying,
navigation training, and weapons and formation training. It will have
good visibility from both cockpits, with a 50-degree down-view angle
from the rear cockpit, ejection seats, an on-board oxygen generation
system, an environmental control system, an anti-G system, and
shock-absorbing landing gear for training missions.

And on Dec.
23 Turkish military electronics specialist Aselsan signed a $167.4
million contract with the Turkish government to build an X-band
satellite communications system.

Officials say the program aims to boost military data sharing and command of Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

In
an Oct. 23 interview with Defense News, SSM chief Murad Bayar said
Turkey would add satcom capabilities to the Anka, the country’s first
indigenously built UAV.

Bayar said the Anka’s design would
evolve over time after consultations with the Air Force about what
modifications or additions might be needed.

“The most critical
modification from the original design will be the satcom capability,
which we have decided to add to the aircraft,” he said.

Industry
experts say satcom is considered to be an ideal solution for UAV
operations. One expert said satcom would be a critical enabler of UAV
operations. “It will enable extended-range data capture and transfer. A
kind of multiplier, in a way,” the SSM official said.

Turkey recently signed a contract with TAI for an initial purchase of 10 Ankas.

The Anka is a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone. Such UAVs usually can operate for 24 hours at an altitude of 10,000 feet.

Greece assumes EU presidency as anger towards Brussels grows

A Greek woman in
Syntagma Square protests against plans for banks to repossess homes from
those who have fallen behind on their mortgage. Photograph: Giorgos
Panagakis/ Giorgos Panagakis/Demotix/Corbis

After years of allowing Athens's central plaza to bear the marks
of riot and wrath, the Greek authorities have been tarting up Syntagma
square as Greece prepares to take over the rotating presidency of the EU on New Year's Day.
Greece's
assumption of the role – which comes with the ability to regulate
policy in the 28-nation bloc – marks a major milestone for a state whose
continued EU membership appeared far from assured a year ago.
Even now, four years after triggering the debt drama that would become Europe's worst crisis since the second world war, there is scepticism over whether Athens will last the course.
Monday's pre-dawn drive-by shooting attack at the home of Germany's
ambassador to Greece underlined the volatile mood. The bullet casings
found at the scene embodied the sentiments of a nation that blames
Berlin for years of grinding austerity
– the price of receiving more than €240bn (£200bn) in emergency loans
from the EU and IMF. The fear of social unrest is never far away.
None
of this is lost on Greece's deputy prime minister and foreign minister,
Evangelos Venizelos, who was quick to describe the shooting as an
"attempt to tarnish Greece's image" before the EU presidency.
Greek antipathy towards Germany is one aspect of the crisis but so too is mounting hostility towards the EU.
"It's
cost us a great deal," said Venizelos, rolling off a list of the
sacrifices Greeks have made to stay in the bloc. "Greece stands alone in
making a unique fiscal adjustment … in 3.5 years we have taken measures
[worth] €70bn. That is the equivalent of 35% of GDP, " he added in an
interview with the Guardian.
For Venizelos, the perceived irony of
Greece "presiding over Germany" is further proof that member states
remained far from equal. "The irony is to be found in the fact that the
principle of institutional equality … is collapsing," he said. "Some
countries decide and some countries execute [those decisions]."
But
prime minister Antonis Samaras's conservative-led coalition also views
the six-month post as an opportunity to ram home the message that Greece
is both on the mend and taking its European credentials seriously.
"It's a chance for Europe, for the European Union,
to show that a country that is in an adjustment programme is a normal
country," said Venizelos. "And it's a chance for Greece to prove that it
is a normal European country."
Athens will prioritise economic
growth, immigration policy and youth unemployment, from which it suffers
more than any other EU state. Privately, officials also hope that in
allowing Greece to focus on European affairs, EU stewardship will give
the government an unofficial grace period: a period of detente, free of
the pressures to implement unpopular reforms that have not only
polarised Greeks but steadily reduced the coalition's control of
parliament to a majority of three.
With crucial elections for the
European parliament in May – polls expected to bring anti-European
sentiment to the fore – Venizelos said Greece is resolved to contribute
to what is likely to be "a big debate" about Europe's future.
"Now
that we are going to have the big debate … about Europe and the new
narrative [of Europe], it is good that Greece, which has lived the
experience of the crisis, is president. It is the laboratory of the
crisis," he said.
Such goals may prove illusory. Despite achieving
a primary budget surplus, Athens may miss new fiscal targets. On the
street, passions are at boiling point following legislation that allows
banks to repossess homes.
Amid speculation about a new bailout –
vehemently denied by Samaras, who insisted on Monday that Greece will
soon exit its rescue programme – fears abound that far from uniting
Europe, the presidency will be overshadowed by Athens's often strained
relations with the organisations that have kept it afloat. With EU
members providing 80% of the rescue funds to date that will almost
certainly reinforce the north-south divide.
"Our relations with
the troika were always difficult," said Venizelos, referring to the
recent inability of both sides to bridge their differences. "The troika
is not behaving well in light of … our huge [financial] success," he
added, insisting that Greece's rescue deals could have had a "more
flexible and more clever approach".
In sharp contrast to other EU
countries, Greece has kept pre-presidency refurbishments to a minimum.
Apart from replacing the shattered marble in Syntagma square almost
nothing has been done to adorn Athens. For many it is a sign of the
times.

Monday, December 30, 2013

News DeskDecember 30, 2013 02:04

The top 10 most-read GlobalPost stories in 2013 prove you hate America, among other things

2. Europe’s marijuana capital isn’t Amsterdam

Lush strip of green: Nine-tenths of villagers are believed to take part
in marijuana cultivation in Lazarat, Albania. (Besar
Likmeta/GlobalPost)
Lazarat is known as Albania’s drug capital, notorious for its cannabis and lawlessness.
The annual crop earns almost $6 billion, according to the Italian
financial police. Although local police dispute that figure, they admit
that marijuana production is booming.

See all the 10 list:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/131227/the-top-10-most-read-globalpost-stories-2013

Former Transport Minister
Michalis Liapis was sentenced to four year suspended imprisonment,
redeemable for 50 euros a day, after being arrested for driving an
uninsured vehicle with fake number plates.
The former minister, who did not attend the trial , was imposed an
additional fine of 3,000 euros because the vehicle was uninsured.

Earlier, the prosecutor had asked to declare him guilty without
mitigating circumstances. Referring to the fake plates, the prosecutor
said that the former minister acted fraudulently having premeditated the
act.
The lawyers of the former minister claimed earlier that Liapis acted
recklessly, adding that he feels bad and is remorseful. They also
explained his absence from the court saying that there are 30 reporters
and cameras outside that he wanted to avoid.
Source: Athens News Agency

Greece is probably Russia's oldest friend. The history of relations between the two nations is more than thousand years old. Economic and commercial ties between Greece and Russia do not reflect the excellent political relations at the moment, while trade relations have significant room for further growth.

Greek exports to Russia doubled in 2012 compared with 2004, and the positive trend is expected to continue. Around 150 mixed Greek-Russian businesses now operate in Russia, with a total turnover of 2.5 billion euro and 20,000 employees.

Speaking in Moscow, on the occasion of the Greek-Russian "Go International" forum in May this year, Greece's Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas said that a turn of the Greek economy towards exports was leading the economy out of the crisis.

"Russia has been upgraded at 10th from 12th place in terms of Greek exports and in 2016 I believe it will be in the top-five," Dimitris Kourkoulas said. "Exports, tourism and privatization will have a significant contribution to the rescue of our economy."

Russia looks upon the Greek market as a portal to a wider market of 65 million people. Tourism is the key sector for economic cooperation between the two countries right now. Greece, which will take over presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2014, is going to seek a looser EU visa regime for Russians in that period.

Greece needs Russian investments, mostly, in sectors like transport, agriculture, but most of all energy. Russia's Gazprom and Sintez, a private natural gas company, have recently raised more than 1.5 billion euro for a 65% share in Greece's DEPA state-owned natural gas group. Gazprom already uses DEPA capacities to supply some 90% of the Greek-bound gas.

ISTANBUL A wave of early morning police raids in Turkey on Dec. 17 gave the world a sudden glimpse into the murky inner workings of the countrys ruling elite, pulling back the curtain on astonishing scenes of bribery and graft.

The head of the state-controlled financial giant, Halkbank, had $4.5 million secreted in shoe boxes in his study. Istanbuls best-known real-estate developer was interrogated over bribes to evade zoning restrictions. The interior ministers sons home had so many strongboxes filled with cash, he needed a counting machine to keep the accounts straight. His father has now been forced to resign as part of major cabinet reshuffle. Another minister, Erdogan Bayraktar, who oversees the mega-construction projects that are transforming Istanbul, didnt leave quietly. He said hed done nothing without Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogans full blessing. To make people more comfortable, the prime minister should also resign, he told a private news channel.

These remarks from a lifelong political ally were particularly damaging. Billboards throughout Turkish cities feature Mr. Erdogan staring into the distance and proclaiming that he is on target to lead the Republic to its centenary in 2023. Suddenly, with four former ministers in his cabinet implicated in corruption and with newspapers suggesting that his own family may be next on the prosecutors list he looks like a man staring into the bottom of a well.

The allegations of high-level corruption threaten to undo Mr. Erdogans accomplishment of wresting Turkish politics from the military and overseeing a long period of economic growth. Like a Moses in the wilderness, he has led his people from one sort of bondage but appears unable to deliver them to a promised land of transparent government where people are ruled through consensus rather than bullying and threats.

Mr. Erdogan does not know how to play defense. Last weekend, he addressed rally after rally and cursed the international groups and dark alliances trying to undermine Turkeys prestige. Newspapers tied to his government named the culprits: Israel and the United States. One pro-Erdogan broadsheet demanded that the American ambassador, Francis J. Ricciardone Jr., be declared persona non grata for trying to punish Halkbank for its dealings with Iran.

While the government tries to shout down the opposition, it has done little to restore its own credibility. The compromised ministers werent the initial targets; rather, it was the officers involved in the investigation who lost their jobs first. A reported 400 officers have been removed from their posts or reassigned. To choke off the steady trickle of embarrassing leaks, the Interior Ministry has banned reporters from police stations. Procedures have been changed so that the police cannot assist the public prosecutor without first informing their superiors even if it is the superior who stands accused.Absolute power corrupting absolutely tells only part of the Turkish story. Corruption and institutionalized greed can become a powerful engine pushing a government over the edge into absolutism. Its happening to a government that came to power 11 years ago promising to be the new broom that would sweep Turkish politics clean.

Some analysts believe that Mr. Erdogans Justice and Development Party (known as the A.K.P.) will lose a few percentage points in nationwide local elections this March, but that its standing is so strong that it will cling to power.

Yet this assumes that the A.K.P. has managed to plug the dam. The government is used to taking its gloves off against the radical secularists. It isnt used to dealing with waves of dissent from within its own camp. The brutal suppression of last summers protests in Istanbuls Taksim Square had already tarnished Mr. Erdogans image. Blaming America and the rest of the world for his troubles will only isolate Turkey further.

It is a country that needs to borrow liberally from abroad to finance its public debt. This week the Turkish lira fell to a record low against the dollar. The prospect of more political instability will make investors even more nervous.

Many commentators have framed the raids as evidence of an escalating row between Mr. Erdogan and the religious preacher Fethullah Gulen, who controls an influential network of adherents from a self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania.

Its true that the Gulenists were natural allies of the A.K.P. when it first came to power in 2002. Zekeriya Oz, the prosecutor who initiated last weeks investigation, is the same official who launched the Ergenekon trial a successful criminal action against the top brass for plotting a military coup (he is believed to have Gulen connections). The speculation is that many of those police officers who lost their jobs in the last 10 days had Gulen affiliations. A recent brimstone sermon webcast by Mr. Gulen fueled speculation that new revelations about A.K.P. wrongdoing are in the pipeline.

But blaming the Gulen movement is a bit like blaming Zionists. Its a sad commentary on contemporary Turkey that people have to reach for conspiracy theories to explain why public officials are doing their job to prosecute corruption. It doesnt seem to have crossed peoples minds that disunity within the A.K.P. coalition has given wiggle room to those who actually believe in the rule of law and want to enforce it.

Until recently, the great cliché about Turkey was that its primary political fault line lay between secularists and the religious right. But the tremors that have shaken Mr. Erdogans government are emanating from a fault line within the religious right itself.The government is treating the crisis as nothing short of a coup by those jealous of its success. This is nonsense.

The opposition it faces has emerged because of the A.K.Ps own lack of respect for the rule of law and a cynical disregard for public accountability. It can no longer hide behind conspiracy theories and bluster.

The Panepirotic Federation of America vehemently condemns the brutal destruction by Albanian authorities on August 26 of a Greek Orthodox Church in the Chimara region of the former Communist nation that once prohibited all forms of religious worship. The Church of St. Athanasius in the town of Drymades, known in Albanian as Dhermi, was completely destroyed by government agents acting on the authority of Albania’s Interior Ministry.

Petitioning European Council

The land in Himara belongs to the people of Himara! Land and property registration NOW! Signe now this petition to the European Councile, for the registration of properties to the only and single eligible owner: the PEOPLE of Himara.

Himara Community of USA, Addresses Himarra Property Issues with US State Department / Ambassador

The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary of State U.S. Department of State Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing to inform you of issues affecting United States citizens who have vested interests in the municipality of Himarra, Albania, and to express our concern about their long outstanding and unresolved problems regarding property rights. Over 1500 US citizens of Himarrioton descent are disenfranchised of their rights to the ownership of their family properties which were confiscated in 1945 by the communist regime. They have been attempting to claim their family properties since the end of the communist period without success due to the laws and policies of the Albanian government which a) fail to address ownership rights of pre-1945 landowners, b) fail to address the rights of owners who were forced to emigrate to the United States for economic or political reasons, and c) fail to address the rights of those with dual citizenship who have attempted to claim their properties as Albanian citizens.

Opinion - Kisha Autoqefale dhe Greqia! (14 tetor 2013)

DEBAT NE OPINION TV KLAN

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Officially: Omonoia, In Albania over 300.000 Greeks declared

30 % or 86,000, are declared electronically and this process includes 85 % of the members of the Greek minority Vlora Prefecture is the mostly populated by Greeks, there are about 90. 000 Greeks. TIRANA - Democratic Union of the Greek Ethnic Minority, Omonoia publishes the results of the census of members of the Ethnic Greek Community, organized by it structures. The Prime Census, was the decision of the General Council of the organization as members argued for exclusion of the Greek minority in the months Census October 2011, organized by the Institute of Statistics .

The history of elections of the Albanian dictator, to terrorize the people of Himara

A special Edition by SManalysis December 2, 1945: The Himariotes, abstaining from communist referendum, as happens usually for Himara the Albanian historians, never wrote this tragic history. Nikos Koutoulas, who boldly told the special communist court: "I'm Greek . I do not know Albanian, get me a interpret!" Still now, Albania never hold free politic elections, including Himara Municipality

Albanian Writer Raises Storm in Kosovo

Kosovo officials have rounded on Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja for saying that the political elites in both countries turned a blind eye to the crimes of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA. Besar Likmeta BIRN Tirana Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja In the article published in the May edition of the magazine Sudosteuropa, Lubonja focused on the reaction of Albania’s political class to the acquittal of the former KLA commander and Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj by the Hague Tribunal. Lubonja wrote that following Haradinaj’s release, the elite in Pristina and Tirana celebrated him as a hero, despite having enough information that the charges brought by prosecutors in the Hague were correct.

As long as human rights and civil liberties are violated in Himara Region primarily property, Greec

Himara Associations: Athens to block the status of Albania, if Tirana, does not solve the property issue Two associations based in Himara, "The Himara Community" and "Sea Coastal Association" have asked in a statement distributed to the media this afternoon that Greece "should block the candidate status for Albania" if Tirana, will not solve the problems of Human Rights and particularly the issue of the properties in Himara Region. The statement takes into consideration the visit Tirana following day of E.Venizelos the Greek Deputy Prime Minister also heads the Presidency of the European :

Albania minorities object to territorial division

Albania's civil society is calling on officials to diffuse tensions and protect minorities from discrimination and potential violence as a result of the decision to scrap the existing municipalities and create a new territorial administration. The government reduced the 384 local government units to 65, effectively creating entirely Albanian-majority municipalities. Greek, Macedonian and other minority representatives said the government's move violates their rights and international norms.

Poll: Albania, the most racist country in Europe

An international survey data from the World Value Survey collected and processed by the Washington Post reveals that Albania is the most racist country in Europe and worldwide more racists. The survey attempts to make a connection between economic development and being tolerant inside a society with ethnic crashes.. Thus, the most tolerant countries in the world are the Nordic countries, Great Britain and some of its former colonies, the United States, Canada and Australia. Countries with high tolerance are also in Latin America, where Venezuela exception.

Fatos Lobonja: Albania needs formatting not to rebirth

Fatos Lobonja, in an interview for the program "PULS" the KohaVision in Kosovo, there appeared criticism of developments in Albania. According Lubonja Albanians as a society still can not be consolidated. The reasons, according to him, are corrupt Albanian political elites on all sides, inside and abroad. He said they did not thirst for power leaves organize and move forward. Edi Rama's arrival at the head of government, according Lubonja, will not change the image of Albania, because Rama is associated with the oligarchs and organized crime. " He should answer that elite and non-citizens of Albania ", Lobonja estimates.

Nicholas Gage: Athens to give soon the Greek citizenship for thousand north epiriotes

World Council delegation of Epirus Abroad, meeting with the Ministry of Interior for the vote of northern epiriotes and the resolve the pension problem The visit of Nicholas Gage, is considering as the latest diplomatic effort of USA lobbing, for implementation of the "Protocol of Corfu" agreement, between Albania and Greece, based on the ulterior escalation in Balkan region. The Delegation of the World Council of Foreign Relation of Epirus (PSIE) headed by the Honorary President Nicolas Gkatzogianni, had a working meeting with the Greek Interior minister Stylianidis and v/ minister Syrigos.

Himariotes, lobbying in USA, for Autonomy

A group of people of Himara, with American citizenship, are lobbying to the US Congress and the State Department, that the Himara Region, receive the right for autonomy, according to international historical right to his self-determination. Proposed to merge all associations operating in USA, Greece and Albania, to be united in a single purpose: Autonomous Himara, Movements in the Balkans geopolitical, Mitrovica case, cutting pension from Greece, scarce public investment, robbery and illegal registration of property, etc., have raised a great concern, as never in the recent relationship of Himara, Albanian and Greek state relationship.

Pyrros Dimas, meeting with the Greek Minister of Labour, for problem of pensions to the Northern Ep

- Initiative of MP of PASOK, Pyrros Dimas for preparing and drafting a legislative proposal in collaboration with representatives of the Northern Epirus organizations. - The Minister agreed on the need to find a solution and urged the Member to develop concrete proposals, and that after consultation with the Secretary of the New Republic, Manolis Kefaloyiannis will be submitted jointly to the Minister of Finance.

"Kakome Case" again to the Albanian Tribunals

The Greek Community continues to "constant war" with the Albanian government to protect property. The apathy of Athens, to respond to the robbery of the properties in just the time, that OSCE, under the process of the registration of property in Ionian Coast, from European taxpayers, without any trasparence, is favoring according to Albanian law, alienation of property, of the Greek community , with the false documents.

Berisha: albanophobia threatens inter region

Berisha: "We must accept that they are the only people who live in 5 states. A nation that is unjustly divided into 5 states, a nation that wants to look to a common future. But again albanophobia is still in action " Albanian Prime Minister for the second time, threatening Greece, claiming that Albanians in Greece, should join the Albanian state.

NORTHERN EPIRUS THROUGH THE CENTURIES(LECTURE OF VASILIOS KYRANIS, Harvard University -1981) AL

Christos Pappas, in an interview with Arthur Zhei, News 24 TV

Pappas: "Northern Epirus is a region that holds arbitrary from Albania, as recognized by the great powers, the Protocol of Corfu. The Law of War against Albania, can not remove from Papoulias nor Greek parliament, but the Greek army is ready to liberate the Northern Epirus, again

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After a life threatening message to Archbishop Janullatos

42 Orthodox clergy against census and Red & Black Alliance: Janullatos has not afraid of death 42 Tirana archdiocese Orthodox clergy have reacted with a joint statement in defense of Anastasios Yannoulatos. Their attitude comes after strong reactions against the Red & Black Alliance, for Archbishop and after a census that sees Orthodox in third place in terms of religion in the country.

Albania: 100 years, Berisha plays 'great Albania' trump card

In Tirana Albanian leaders, tensions with Macedonia 28 November, 10:49 (ANSAmed) - TIRANA, NOVEMBER 28 - Albania's black and red national flag with a double-headed eagle is waving across the country which is celebrating today its 100th anniversary of independence in a tense political climate. The centre-right Premier Sali Berisha has been calling for days for an ethnic-national unification of all Albanians living in different Balkan states, in efforts to revive a strong nationalism which is rejected by Albania's opposition.

The Official Site of The Himara Community

CONTINUES THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON D.C. FOR THE PROPERTY RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS FROM NORTHERN

According to the Greek organisation of Albania estimates there are thousands of Greek American citizens from Northern Epirus (Southern Albania) which is refering the Journalist Lambros Papantoniou, asking the Spokesman of State Department for the rights of American citizens with Greek origin to take their properties in Southern Albania. Papantoniou is refereeing a Memo between Albanian State and USA about the civil rights especially for the properties of American citizens who are interested to take them according to Albanian Constitution and laws the properties of family generation. This is the second debate of the veteran Journalist for Balkan Issues in State Department Lambros Papantoiou who accuses over all the Sali Berisha Regim in Albania supported by the President Bush.

A Response to AFP

SManalysis Orthodox churches of Albania, are Byzantine churches, belong to the property of the population of Epirus.....

Avramopoulos`s speach during NATO meeting

Greece threatens Albania blocking the integration process after Berisha's statements Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, has expressed his concern at the NATO ministerial meeting about rising tide of nationalism in Albania and premature declarations of the government. In a press release the Greek Foreign Ministry said that "the growth of nationalism and populism in some of our neighboring countries is a source of great concern."

The U.S. talk of "change of borders in the Balkans"

Message-warning sent to Albania by the U.S. representative to the State Department, which in a statement said that any change of borders in the Balkans "would be counterproductive and destabilizing," but the issue is that for the first time put the U.S. even and negative mood on any change of borders in the Balkans ...

INUK në Vlorë, pronarët: Me dokumenta të rregullta dhe leje ndërtimi

ENIKOS.GR

GREEK NEWS FROM NIKO`S BLOG

PREMIUM, THE GREEK TRASFORMATION

The "Kissinger Plan": Confederations Macedonia, Epirus, Thrache,

THE BIG CHANGE IN PERIVOLO, DRYMADES, HIMARA REGION

Dhermi, (Drymades, Himara Region) between natural beauty and destruction Look at those videos, before in 2010, everything natural and in 2012 the differences, the big changes how are divided Mafia plots, see whose investments are shown, with the camera of a sportsman parachute, in Long Beach "Perivolo" in Dhrymades, the Himara Region. Look at how this summer 2012, the Concessions of Mafia provided by The Himara Counsil Municipality and the Government of Albania, have become a reality. The Sand Beach Drymades, is transformed in the sidewalks and kiosks. See how they are transformed Dhermi, in a few years, in an administrative center, disrupting also balance the religious and ethnic composition of himariotes.

Robert Elsie: If I would live in Albania, it would be crazy. It is the same as in Ottoman times

After known albanolog Milan Shufla, Robert Elsie is the best conteproranean albanian albanolog in the World During his intereweu on "Top Channely TV, Robert Elsie, on his first interview on TV. expresed his story about Albanian and Albanian state in 100 years. An interesting tale scholar known for his work difficulties in view of the Albanian language. Elsie, who knows Albanians for years, amounts to a chilling conclusion. He says he will not ever live in Albania, as it will go mad. "I can not live here. It's a little wild for me, the relationships between people are a bit wild. I know that is just a facade that inside have good spirit, but have a rabies in human relations. You know how to protect yourself here, and here I am like a rabbit, he can not defend myself. I come here with pleasure, but do not believe they can afford to come and live here forever. There is much frustration of everyday life. Life is too short and I do not have time to bump into obstacles, only to achieve something, when in another country and get away and then live my life, "said Elsie to Albanian. And while Enver Hoxha's Albania as compared with that of Sali Berisha, adds: "There is something that depends only on the party, it's more the attitude of the people. So to get something going, you have to know someone in the Ministry, to drink coffee with, then drink coffee again next week with even a third time, and then he connects with the person that you are interested . That is the same as in Ottoman times, not like a normal country. ".

Separatists gaining ground in Europe

Greece, is going to Plan B: grant for 600 thousand Greek citizenship, at the Consulates

Failure of the Census in Albania, apparently, has forced Athens, put in place, going to Plan B to its foreign policy, grant citizenship to all Hellenic Community of Northern Epirus (Greek passports) through three Greek consulates in Albania. According to “The Albanian newspaper Gazeta Shqiptare”, in a statement issued by the Greek Consul in Argjirokaster, Nikolaos Kotroxois, will begin soon, giving the Greek passports to Albanian citizens of Greek descent, who have applied for years. The decision is taken, after Athens, has used all diplomatic sources to have to Tirana, the same wavelength, particularly in geopolitical matters, particularly Kosovo. In his statement, the Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Dimas, noted, that Tirana, continues to show towards Greece, feeling not sincere cooperation, while simultaneously calling for the right to self-determination of the Greek community in Albania.

BERISHA: GREATER ALBANIA, WE LOST TERRITORIES

he Albanian Prime Minister held a meeting with Prishtina University students, in which he argued why he is against the unification of Albania with Kosovo and why both countries would lose, if borders would be changed. “The vital interest of the Albanians is to preserve the current borders, and the Albanians should not accept, at any cost, to lose a single square meter of the land they are entitled to. Another redraw of the borders would mark undeserved losses of the Albanian territories. We must be patient, free, and should not undertake any action that threatens territorial losses. Every generation has to make its duty, and this generation made it”, Berisha declared.

Dimas:"The Greek ethnic Community in Albania has the right of free of charge self-determination"

The reliability of the results of population census in Albania, in terms of minority groups, directly challenging the foreign minister Stavros Dimas, diaminyontas same time that the Respect for human and minority rights is … crucial criterion for the progress of the accession method of our neighbor. In a letter sent to the Home in response to a question from a Member of LA.OS K. Aivaliotis, Dimas says that “the foreign ministry has closely followed all the developments surrounding the census in Albania, even though produced timely plays, both bilateral and European level to make sure the integrity process and unimpeded registration of members of the Greek National Minority, and each location of residence of such ». As outlined, the “Selection of the representatives of the main minority groups, including the Greek National Minority, invite their members to abstain in protest not guaranteed to respect the right of free of charge self-determination, showed a significant deficit of trust minority in the Albanian state, which ought to itself the Albanian government to address priority ».

The Constitutional Court Decision on December 1, the Latter abolished the term Ethnic certificate of Its Citizens. In the Decision, panels argues why the notion of "nationality" is incompatible with the constitution When Its state charter law does not provid a clear definition of Its meaning. In Assessing the Court, "nationality" as defined concept without, unlike Other components of civil law does not Create a link that 'translates the Mutual rights and duties of Natural Persons and state.

While the total population in Himara Municipality, does not exceed 12 thousand inhabitants, a source from the prosecution of Vlora, shows that the problems of ownership at the squirrels region have reached the 7500 court proceedings and special investigations, which marks a world record, by how a country like Albania, could not manage the right of ownership, in one of the areas attacked by the Albanian mafia and international. However, the U.S. Department Report for 2004 on human rights in Albania, states clearly that in the Himara Municipality, the community lands and the Orthodox Church, was robbed by a Courts with false documents, supported by the Office of Propetry Registration in Albania.

Arben Puto: Albania has declared war against Greece first

In his book "The Italian Greek War", Arben Puto, well known historian of the era of dictatorship in Albania, writes that: "In a unanimous decision of the Albanian Parliament on July 15, 1940, was ratified, the Italian Fascist royal decree, which declared all war allies France and Britain, including the USA and Greece. So need to Albanians, to be aware that Greece was not declared war Albania, but Albania, with military battalions that attacked Greece on 28 October 1940 ".

WB returns to Ionian Riviera residence reconstruction

Another World Bank project is being executed with the help of the Albanian authorities for the reconstruction of the residences in Albania’s southern coastline. The 625.000 USD project aims to protect and promote the values of the Albanian national architecture in the Southern part of the country, in order to prevent destruction and abandonment of the traditional houses. “Shqip” newspapers says that the Ministry of Public Works is the WB partner in the “Roofs and Facades” project. The implementation of the program has started in the villages classified as participators: Dhermi i Vjeter, Qeparo i Vjeter, Ilias, Vuno, Himare e Vjeter, Piqeras, Nivice and Luksht. The World Bank will finance 70% of the restauration cost, with a maximum of 7000 USD, while the program “Accommodation and Breakfast” will finance 50 of the restoration cost, with a maximum of 5,000 USD. The program “Roofs and Facades” aims to restore 72 houses in 18 months. 20 of them will adopt with the conditions of modern life, in the framework of the program “Accommodation and Breakfast”.

In Albania, at 20 years post-dictatorship, 8 thousands murders, for the issue of property

The shocking data, are given by the Prosecutor General, to the Albanian press Shocking facts which, in the wake of Albania rank Civil War, the high level of killings, including the year 1997 Through the Albanian press, Attorney General, has published shocking facts about the increasing number of murders in Albania, especially for issues of ownership. Clic on photo ....

Himara 26 centuries, a history of glorious Independence

HIMARA, THE NEXT MONTE CARLO`S IN EPIRUS

First step to Greater Albania: Kosovo Opens First Highway Section

A 38 kilometre-tranche of the road, which will eventually cross the country from the Albanian to Serbian border, was opened on Saturday. The first section, which runs from Vermica on the Albanian border to close to the town of Suhareka, cost 330 million euro. Senior Kosovo and Albania government officials were present at the inauguration ceremony. In a speech, Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga said that the "highway has the role of linking nations and countries". "It is our link with important European corridors. Our coordinated policy will make us a free and equal members of the European Union," she added. Named the "Ibrahim Rugova Highway", after Kosovo's most famous president, the road connects with Albania's first highway, which was also built by the Turkish-American consortium Bechtel-Enka.

George Goro: Registration of properties on the southern coast of Albania faces difficulties

The process of registration of property in southern coastal areas of Albania is getting quite difficult. Mayor George Himara Goro says it has so far only completed the registration of houses and land but not land. Problems with documentation and the implementation of the Land Law difficult, according to him, residents in this process.

The Monument of Independence of Albania, is in hassle

PDIU Cam Community Party, the Socialist Party's local leader in Vlora, and "Red & Black Alliance", are making a nationalistic competition, the Monument of Independence and the Albanian national flag. Few days ago, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, said the establishment of a new monument to the independence of Albania in Tirana, implying, dismiss the historical tradition of Albanian independence in Vlora.

Himarrioton Society of America

The Himarriotans of America, motivated by the love of Himarra, the land of their native origin, and dedicated to the noblest ideals of their forfathers, have established this organization which aspires to the cultivation and preservation of Himarriotic culture in America, to making a positive difference in the lives of its members, and to promoting the rights and interests of the Himarriotans in Himarra, through the realization of patriotic, charitable, philanthropic, educational and cultural endeavors.

Opinion in Kosovo: "Socialists in Albania, are filo Greek"

The Chairman of the Opposition in Albania, Edi Rama, accused by the press in Kosovo that "he is with filo Greek sentiments" If, Sali Berisha, Albania's current prime minister, is expected both in Macedonia and Kosovo, as president of the Albanian nation, this has not happened with the chairman of the opposition in Albania, Edi Rama. During a recent visit to Kosovo, Edi Rama is unpopular, the fact that the perception of public opinion in Kosovo, is that the south, is the area close to Greece, but especially Rama and the Socialist Party, was accused of holding a position filo Greek, against the interests of Greater Albania.